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chapter 48
[To be honest, I’m interested in you, Ha Yoonjae.]
Those were the words Dahui had spoken years ago when she had come for a collaboration with Youngdo.
Her face, smiling softly while still holding his hand firmly during the handshake, was innocent and fresh. She carried a brightness that made it obvious she had been loved wherever she went.
Yoonjae, quietly listening to the candid and straightforward affection of a woman who had never been rejected, spoke.
[Is that a condition of the contract? That I feel the same way?]
It was the most indifferent voice in the world.
Dahui, momentarily unable to answer, heard him continue.
[Then try.]
His tone was ridiculously insulting.
So cold, so emotionless, it made her feelings—kindled into affection—turn to ashes instantly.
And now, several years later.
The man, still sharp and irritating as ever, seemed alive with vigor.
Watching Yoonjae move forward, surpassing many people, there was a certain desperation in his posture that Dahui couldn’t ignore.
Only upon hearing the word “newlywed” did Dahui realize a woman was standing in the direction he was headed, and she stood there, stunned, pointing toward a man she didn’t even know, Juho.
“Is that… her?”
The woman was entering the event hall, heading toward a location not far off, perfectly opposite from what Dahui had expected.
With so many people, how could he have noticed her at once?
Was it because she was too flashy? Too unique?
No, entering the hall, she was far more understated than expected.
Her hair tied neatly in a simple bun with a single pin as an accent. A minimalist two-piece outfit, holding a small clutch bag.
What stood out was the clear, dynamic life radiating from her presence.
Her bright smile and unwavering gaze made anyone who looked at her think of sunlight.
That special quality shone uniquely in a space that otherwise felt lifelessly formal—at least in Ha Yoonjae’s eyes.
And that sunlit brilliance naturally drew Yoonjae toward her.
“Ha Yoonjae!”
We spotted him late and waved cheerfully to get his attention.
Despite being the center of attention simply by being there, she paid no heed to the sharp glances around her and quickly reached Yoonjae.
“I was about to call you, but how can I see you here right away?”
Speaking with her bright, sparkling eyes, he asked simply.
“My eyes.”
“Oh, it’s fine now. I don’t need sunglasses anymore. I can see perfectly. I even went to the hospital.”
Even in her brief answer, she gave him exactly what he wanted. We leisurely looked around the hall.
“I feel like a celebrity.”
She laughed at the strange attention focused on her.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
Indeed, it had only been a week.
After her LASIK, she had only been able to look at him through sunglasses—now she could see his eyes clearly for the first time.
“Ha Yoonjae?”
We called him again as he silently stared at her. Waving the hand without her bag, he finally regained some focus, though her heart still raced wildly.
“How did you come here?”
The more rational part of her spoke first, and she shrugged.
“I was going to contact you, but I thought you might tell me not to come, so I just came.”
“…”
“You can’t easily refuse an invitation like this, right? Even if not now, for later. And not telling me was your mistake, Ha Yoonjae. Don’t make people misunderstand. What if they found out later and spit in my coffee?”
It was truly her way of expressing her disappointment—though not wrong.
Director Han Myeongsook had even set aside time for her granddaughter’s visit, showing interest.
Yet she didn’t want to be a spectacle, preferring to come alone. But seeing him casually there made that worry meaningless.
And he looked dazzling.
“Oh, Eunse helped me get here.”
“You’ve become that close to Ha Eunse?”
“She’s adorable. Like a cat. Oh, by the way, I have something for you.”
Continuing Eunse’s seemingly irrelevant praise, she pulled something from her bag.
Wrapped in a small cloth the size of her hand was an elegant tie pin.
“Can I put this on?”
Even as she asked, she took Yoonjae’s tie and clipped the pin on with a bright smile.
Their affectionate interaction left everyone nearby stunned, silently recognizing the truth:
She was the woman.
The woman who had suddenly appeared in Ha Yoonjae’s life.
And…
“What do you think? Pretty, right? Do you like it?”
She held the tie and looked up, piercing his heart. Technically, she was asking about the pin, but Yoonjae, mesmerized by her sparkling eyes, had no choice but to answer:
“It’s beautiful.”
She smiled widely.
“See? I chose well. Your sister picked this, and it comes as a set.”
She pointed to the pin in her hair, and Yoonjae felt dizzy.
It wasn’t just that she’d taken off her glasses.
It wasn’t the object itself—it was her eyes, shining brilliantly without obstruction, that left him utterly shaken.
“Not too late, right?”
Late or early no longer mattered.
He reached for her hand.
“Perfect.”
More than enough, beyond perfect.
We placed our hands atop his, drawing graceful arcs of affection for all to see.
<The main event will now begin. Guests, please…>
The announcement for the charity auction rang through the hall.
The auction, meant for donations, wasn’t serious or tense.
Most items came from the Eunyang Foundation’s collection, with ceiling prices set to avoid excessive competition.
The idea was to donate joyfully, so everyone enjoyed participating.
Yoonjae had no intention of joining, but she seemed a different story.
Her eyes lit up at the luxurious items displayed.
‘So these are the director’s personal items.’
More extravagant than most auction goods.
She roamed freely, observing and explaining items to others with contagious joy, blending seamlessly with people.
She was light—pure, without a trace of darkness.
Being with her made even us feel radiant.
“Ha Yoonjae!”
We called him without hesitation, approaching him and chatting like it was natural.
“How about 4? The ceiling price is this, 5 is too high, so 4 should be fine… No, maybe 4.5?”
Though the familiarity was unusual, he quietly watched and said:
“You know your stuff.”
“Precious things are limited, and many want them. That’s why auctions make sense.”
“You’ve done this often?”
“Not often, just sometimes. Only what I really want.”
“Sometimes.”
She whispered, covering her mouth with her hand, not noticing he hadn’t heard her subtle tone.
“This place is amazing. But I think the director’s really good items are hidden.”
“Hidden?”
“There’s nothing ugly here.”
Spoken habitually, she continued softly.
Yoonjae leaned in slightly, asking:
“Is that a speech habit?”
“What do you mean?”
“Judging beauty.”
“Huh?”
Before she could answer, a clear announcement sounded:
Ding dong ding dong.
<The auction has ended. Thank you for your participation. Results will be announced shortly…>
The monotone broadcast ended the auction, and the hall brightened.
“…!”
The close proximity between the two of them became undeniably apparent. We stepped back, surprised at how near Yoonjae was.
Perhaps too excited.
“I’ll go to the restroom for a moment.”
Slightly embarrassed, she turned and left before he could reply.
We, cheeks warmed, darted glances around busily.
“Unnecessarily handsome.”
Seeing Ha Yoonjae among the crowd, her presence felt even more striking.
“…Ah.”
Her mind refocused, and the pain she hadn’t noticed before crept up her heels.
‘Completely screwed.’
The high heels she had worn, unnoticed during the auction, now made her feet ache.
She paused, looking down, and took a tentative step.
Limp.
What had been a confident stride now felt timid.
‘I wish I hadn’t noticed.’
Once aware, the pain accumulated quickly.
Pressing against the wall, dragging her heels to find a seat, she felt a familiar hand extend before her.
“Take it.”
Though she had been fine earlier, she hadn’t noticed him approaching.
“How did you get here….”
She mumbled foolishly, and Yoonjae took her hand.
“You can’t not come.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Surprised by his warmth and honesty, she thought:
‘I’m walking like a newborn giraffe.’
